The Naysayer is the home of the bare songs of Anna Padgett. Sadness and self-deprecating humor alternate with a rollicking "shove-it-up-your-ass" attitude. Anna's delicate guitar playing is complimented by sparse arrangements of varied instruments.

The Naysayer was first born to Anna and Cynthia Nelson (Retsin, Ruby Falls). For Deathwhisker (Carrot Top, 2000), and Heaven, Hell, or Houston (Carrot Top, 2002), Anna was joined by Cynthia as well as Tara Jane O'Neil (TJO, Retsin, Rodan). Rowdy pop songs teamed up with minimalist ballads to tell Anna's stories in a concise, harrowing, and sometimes absurd voice.

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Anna and CynthiaPhoto by [unknown]

FILM

I'M A SHARK (Live)

BIOGRAPHY

The Naysayer is the home of the bare songs of Anna Padgett. Sadness and self-deprecating humor alternate with a rollicking "shove-it-up-your-ass" attitude. Anna's delicate guitar playing is complimented by sparse arrangements of varied instruments.

The Naysayer was first born to Anna and Cynthia Nelson (Retsin, Ruby Falls). For Deathwhisker (Carrot Top, 2000), and Heaven, Hell, or Houston (Carrot Top, 2002), Anna was joined by Cynthia as well as Tara Jane O'Neil (TJO, Retsin, Rodan). Rowdy pop songs teamed up with minimalist ballads to tell Anna's stories in a concise, harrowing, and sometimes absurd voice.

Despite Anna's Texas upbringing, the Naysayer loves country. Thus Pure Beauty (Carrot Top, 2003), the band's third release, was shamelessly countrified, with pedal steel, tragic narratives, and a title track dedicated to Anna's then-boyfriend's manhood. This EP marked the Naysayer's final collaboration with Cynthia, and the beginning of the "Dudu Nation" phase of the band - featuring Karla Schickele (Ida, k.) and Miggy Littleton (White Magic, Blood on the Wall).

In 2004, Anna discovered a scientific, measurement-based method for determining when to get a new kitten, and documented her research on a new full-length. Kitten Time (Red Panda) was engineered by James Jim Baluyut (+/-, Versus), and included new Naysayers Elizabeth Venable ("the Bubble,") and Geoff Soule ("Tom," or "Rosa, the Mexican Weaving Woman") from the band Fuck. It turned out that Kendall Jane Meade (Mascott, Sparklehorse) also had extensive knowledge of this new science; Kitten Time was thus released on her new label, Red Panda Records.

The most recent Naysayer full-length, fondly referred to as Smoke Reality, was lovingly recorded and sonically regaled by Tara Jane O'Neil in the Oregon woods. Featuring the mystifying sounds of Geoff Soule and Elizabeth Venable (whose musical union is now known as Sad Horse), it was released on Red Panda Records in 2006. And despite the ganja vibe evoked by the title, you do not have to be on drugs to enjoy this record. The Naysayer's straight thoughts are way more psychedelic than your stoned ones.

Currently the Naysayer consists of Anna alone, with any combination of the people above, and/or with the inimitable and wonderful Ruth "Fufi" Keating (the Malarkies, Ida) and Matt "M." Sutton (the Malarkies, & many, many others...). Anna, Ruth, and Matt joined with James Baluyut to record the operatic "The Shell" for Rare Book Room Records' debut 2008 release, Living Bridge, also featuring Avey Tare, Black Dice, Fischerspooner, and many other bands more famous than the Naysayer. Cool.

The Naysayer also has a new name. Since the birth of a baby naysayer in 2006, the Naysayer's subject matter has changed a bit (naps, teeth, diapers), and THE GOOD MS PADGETT has been born. Along with Ruth, Matt, Jimmy, Tony, and as many babies and dogs as could be crammed into a home recording studio, the Good Ms. Padgett has been working on a collection of 18 baby and children's songs that, babies willing, is nearing completion.